The
corporate media has many voters believing this a contest between Bush and
Kerry. But there is a third candidate in this race, a man who does not bow
to special interests -- domestic or foreign. A man who is not reluctant to
take controversial stands against the Iraq war or to speak up for the
Palestinians.

That man is Ralph
Nader.

All Americans should
give some serious consideration to Nader - if only to deflate the power of
the media barons and vandalize their political machines. But Arab-Americans
and other minorities must be the first to line up behind Nader.

If he had a chance to
win, Nader would put together an administration that would provide a healthy
political environment in which all Americans, no matter their heritage, are
encouraged to participate.

Even though Nader will
lose, his support will not go unnoticed. A new party will be born - one that
will welcome Arab-Americans and other ethnic minorities with open arms as
the equals of every other Americans.

Nader has served us
all well as a consumer advocate and as a champion of the environment. He is
an unimpeachable civil libertarian. He is the only candidate who has the
courage to distinguish between American national interests and Israel's
interest. He promises campaign finance laws that will take the government
out of the hands of the corporate elite and restore it to the people.

Nader is about serious
change. He will pay attention to the middle class, the homeless and the vast
underclass of working people who are not making a living wage. If you are
searching for the most decent man in this race, you will find no better
value for your vote. A little exposure to Nader clears the mind. He leaves a
distinct impression as a man who has genuine concern for our country and our
planet. He inspires us to believe that we can take back our government any
time we want.

Every American should
pay attention to foreign policy. But Arab-Americans should be the first to
understand that our foreign policy effects our domestic well-being. What the
government decides to do to foreigners over there eventually ends up
influencing our life and liberty as ethnic Americans over here.

If you want to
understand how American foreign policy is constructed, pay a little
attention to this election -- because this is where politicians cook the
poison they force feed to the people of the Middle East. This is where they
decide whether Palestinians are tormented or Iraqis are invaded.

To gain votes and
finance their campaigns, both Bush and Kerry have pledged their loyalty to
Israel, right or wrong. Both have given unequivocal support to Sharon’s
incessant assaults against the Palestinians. Both support escalating the war
in Iraq. And both have recruited their foreign policy teams from the ranks
of the Likudnik neo-cons. Only Nader has been willing to pay the political
price of taking on the Israeli lobby.

As a result of their
lethal policies – both major parties end up making America a target for
terror. The whole country suffers the consequences. But Arab Americans are
twice victimized. Like our fellow citizens, we pay the price of living in a
permanent state of insecurity. We pay our fair share of the blood and
treasure that is wasted in the Mess on Potamia. But we also get the
additional bonus of being labeled suspect nationals.

Isn’t it amazing that
Americans of Arab heritage are rarely counted among the ranks of Middle East
‘experts’? What could we possibly know compared to Bush - who has spent less
than a week of his entire life in that troubled region? As an ethnic group,
we are rarely invited to contribute our talents to shaping foreign policy.
Is it not the cruelest of ironies that we end up paying the stiffest price
for the consequences of the colossal mistakes of the State Department and
the Likudnik neo-cons?

Arab-Americans should
be wary of any illusions that the Republicans and Democrats will stop
shunning us anytime soon. They have cast us aside and made us feel like
stepchildren in our own country. We have been defamed in public and labeled
unworthy of full civil rights. Both Democrats and Republicans meet our
concerns and our aspirations with disdain. Only Nader stands for clean and
accountable government that will not pander to one ethnic group and shun
another.

At times like these,
when our community is under political quarantine, the American dream fades a
bit. It’s easy to feel let down and left out. We are definitely worse off
than we were four years ago. And it’s not the economy, stupid. It’s the
erosion of the quality of our citizenship.

We have been
collectively demoted to second-class nationals. When we cast our votes, that
should be our number one concern. As a group and as individuals, we didn’t
do a damn thing to deserve any of this Patriot Act nonsense. So, maybe this
is a good opportunity to let our political aristocracy know that we are mad
as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore.

This election, we have
been left with two choices. We can vote for Nader or not vote at all. We can
let Bush and Kerry treat us as like outcasts or we can vote to cast them
out. Tuesday is a great opportunity to snub both major parties and see how
good it feels to be Americans again.

Wherever you are
living in these United States of America, whatever your ethnicity, vote for
a candidate who will make our country a better and stronger union -- a union
that does not have an ethnic underclass. A union in which all our children
will be treated as equal and worthy citizens before the law and the
lawmakers. We are all ethnic Americans, part of an unbelievable experience
in the annals of human history. We Americans are children of every race and
every culture. Let us vote for candidates who understand that Arab-Americans
should not be treated as an orphan constituency.

This coming Tuesday,
let our voices ring loud and clear for Nader. Let us join a movement that
will revitalize this great democracy and make it truly inclusive. Let
Arab-Americans and Muslim Americans join the millions of their fellow
citizens who will vote for a political renaissance by laying the foundations
of a sane third force on America’s political landscape.

Take a stand and honor
America’s tradition of liberty. Be patriotic and vote for Nader and the
dignity of your children. Now, more than ever, we need a government that
answers to all and is accessible to all.